Libsyn Directory

Lecture four: the building blocks of emotional intelligence – self awareness

Release Date: 10/30/2018

Episode 336: A Creation Honoured Above the Angels [38:72]

Loving and Living the Quran

Allah describes the creation of the human being: “So when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My Spirit, then fall down before him prostrating.” (38:72) In this verse, Adam (as) is first fashioned from clay, then honoured by the breathing of Allah’s Rūḥ. Scholars clarify that this does not mean humans carry a piece of God. Allah is utterly transcendent. Rather, this attribution is a declaration of dignity — an honour bestowed upon humanity. Like the Ka‘bah is called “My House,” this language elevates what is being described. We are not merely animated clay. We are...

Episode 335: The Spectrum of the Human Soul [95:4-5]

Loving and Living the Quran

Allah tells us: “Truly We created the human being in the most beautiful stature (ahsanu taqwīm). Then We cast him to the lowest of the low.” (95:4–5) These verses outline the full spectrum of the human condition. The word taqwīm comes from qawwama — to shape, form, arrange in balance. Scholars explain that ahsanu taqwīmrefers not only to our outward form, but to our inner potential — harmony, balance, moral and spiritual beauty. We were created with the capacity for outward and inward excellence. Yet the next verse reminds us that we can also descend to asfala sāfilīn — the...

Episode 334: Introduction to Ramadan Reflections 2026: Nurturing the Inner Moral Compass

Loving and Living the Quran

Many of us are watching the state of the world with heavy hearts. We see cruelty, dehumanization, and moral numbness — and we ask: How can human beings do this? Where is their conscience? The Qur’an reminds us that moral collapse does not happen overnight. It is rarely one dramatic moment. It is a gradual process — a slow silencing of the inner voice that once made wrongdoing uncomfortable. This Ramadan, we begin a journey to understand that process — not to judge others, but to guard ourselves. Allah speaks of the nafs al-lawwāmah — the self-reproaching soul — so important that...

Episode 333: Lecture 10 M2025: Seeking help through Salaat

Loving and Living the Quran

[Muharram 2025 Series: Holding On to Faith When the World Falls Apart Lessons in Resilience and Resistance from Imam Hussain [as] and Bibi Zainab[as] M1447/2025] In this episode, we discuss the importance of Salaat as a tool of strength, success and discipline. We discuss the superpowers of salaat and how we can begin to become more mindful of our prayers For questions and or comments related to this content, please email livingthequran786@gmail.com Please visit for more resources on practical spirituality. Please consider subscribing and leaving a rating & review on...

Episode 331: Lecture 8 M2025: Amr bil Marouf and Nahi anil Munkar

Loving and Living the Quran

[Muharram 2025 Series: Holding On to Faith When the World Falls Apart Lessons in Resilience and Resistance from Imam Hussain [as] and Bibi Zainab[as] M1447/2025] In this episode, we explore the meaning and importance of enjoining good and forbidding evil, why it is challenging and needed today and how to do it effectively by making love the foundation For questions and or comments related to this content, please email livingthequran786@gmail.com Please visit for more resources on practical spirituality. Please consider subscribing and leaving a rating & review on Apple...

Episode 332: Lecture 9 M2025: Speaking truth to power: Lessons in Resistance from Sayyada Zaynab [as]

Loving and Living the Quran

[Muharram 2025 Series: Holding On to Faith When the World Falls Apart Lessons in Resilience and Resistance from Imam Hussain [as] and Bibi Zainab[as] M1447/2025] In this episode, after reviewing our journey into exploring Istiqama thus far, we turn to learning from Sayyada Zaynab [as] who is an embodied model of resistance. We look at her sermons in Kufa and Damascus and see what lessons we can learn from them in the modern world For questions and or comments related to this content, please email livingthequran786@gmail.com Please visit for more resources on practical...

Episode 329: Lecture 6 M2025: Building Tawakkul Trust in Allah swt

Loving and Living the Quran

[Muharram 2025 Series: Holding On to Faith When the World Falls Apart Lessons in Resilience and Resistance from Imam Hussain [as] and Bibi Zainab[as] M1447/2025] In this episode, we explore the meaning and importance of having Tawakkul in Allah swt, what are some of the preconditions, why it is so important and then we discuss how to develop Tawakkul in our hearts For questions and or comments related to this content, please email livingthequran786@gmail.com Please visit for more resources on practical spirituality. Please consider subscribing and leaving a rating & review on...

Episode 330: Lecture 7 M2025: Resisting Oppression

Loving and Living the Quran

[Muharram 2025 Series: Holding On to Faith When the World Falls Apart Lessons in Resilience and Resistance from Imam Hussain [as] and Bibi Zainab[as] M1447/2025] In this episode, we explore the meaning and importance of standing up to injustice and how we unknowingly be the problem For questions and or comments related to this content, please email livingthequran786@gmail.com Please visit for more resources on practical spirituality. Please consider subscribing and leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts and Facebook/IG

Episode 328: Lecture 5 M2025: Building a relationship with God part 2

Loving and Living the Quran

[Muharram 2025 Series: Holding On to Faith When the World Falls Apart Lessons in Resilience and Resistance from Imam Hussain [as] and Bibi Zainab[as] M1447/2025] In this episode, we continue our exploration of ways to strengthen our relationship with God and focus especially on developing Khasiya or Awe in our hearts. We end the discussion by exploring 5 ways we can experience Awe in our everyday lives For questions and or comments related to this content, please email livingthequran786@gmail.com Please visit for more resources on practical spirituality. Please...

Episode 327: Lecture 4 M2025: Building a relationship with God part 1

Loving and Living the Quran

[Muharram 2025 Series: Holding On to Faith When the World Falls Apart Lessons in Resilience and Resistance from Imam Hussain [as] and Bibi Zainab[as] M1447/2025] After completing our discussion on distractions on the path towards God, we start our discussion on building our relationship with Allah by looking at His proper name For questions and or comments related to this content, please email livingthequran786@gmail.com Please visit for more resources on practical spirituality. Please consider subscribing and leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts and Facebook/IG...

More Episodes

In the fifth lecture, we cover the following:

•The five skills of EQ

•Attributes of AQL

•What is Self awareness

•How do we recognize self awareness?

•Why is it important – what are the benefits? Spiritual and worldly benefits

•How do we practice it?

For more resources on practical spirituality for Muslims, please visit:

1) www.livingthequran.org

2) https://www.facebook.com/lovingandlearningthequran/

3) Loving and living the Quran Podcast https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/loving-and-living-the-quran/id1039955011?mt=2

4) Daily Wisdom email newsletter is a short daily burst of inspiration to live your best self every day. Sign up: https://www.familyconnectionsacademy.com/p/dailywisdoms

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